Beaumont Residents Indicted for Kidnapping, Sex Trafficking Violations

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man and woman have been indicted for kidnapping and sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

Darrell Oliver Lewis, 25, and Lanyale Briana Briggs, 29, both of Beaumont, were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Apr. 3, 2019 charging them with kidnapping and sex trafficking by means of force.   

According to the indictment, on Mar. 5, 2019, Lewis and Briggs are alleged to have forcefully transported a woman from the State of Texas to the State of Louisiana with intentions of engaging in sex trafficking. 

If convicted, the defendants each face up to Life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Tortorice.

It is important to note that an indictment should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.